Lisa Knapp, Zoning Clerk

Permits

Applications for permits can be obtained directly from the zoning office or we can mail or fax them to you upon request.  Permits are needed for the following: new home, deck, porch, room addition, swimming pool, shed, garage, storage building and/or satellite dish.  The setbacks for your various building projects are dependent upon the zoning district in which you live.  Please contact us in the zoning office with any questions.

Signs

For sale, for rent and for lease signs are permitted only on the property in question and must be behind the right-of-way (ROW). Normally, the ROW ends at the utility poles so you should be okay if you keep them behind those poles.  Please contact the office for any other signs you may want to install.  If they are allowed a permit may be required.

Basketball hoops must be kept out of the ROW and are never allowed in the street.  Also, cars, boats, vehicles are not allowed to be stored in front of your house.  Please contact the zoning office for specifics as to the rules and regulations for the township and refer to your homeowner’s association for their regulations if you live in a subdivision.  Also, you should be aware of any deed restrictions that may apply to you and your home.

The township has two boards and one committee that support the zoning function:

BZC – The Berlin Township Zoning Commission that is a legislative board made up of five members and two alternates who reside in the township.  This board is responsible to hear rezoning cases as well as changes of use, modifications to approved development plans and administrative reviews.  They usually meet on the second Tuesday of each month.

BZA – The Board of Zoning Appeals which is a quasi-judicial group also made up of five members and two alternates who reside in the township.  This board is responsible to hear requests for conditional uses, variances, and home occupations.  They meet upon request.

ZRC – Zoning Resolution Committee which is made up of five members, two from the BZC, two from the BZA and the zoning inspector.  This group meets monthly and is responsible to rewrite the current Zoning Resolution book.

All zoning meetings are advertised in the local newspapers and information regarding them can be accessed by calling the zoning office number and following the prompts.  Minutes from the meetings of all three groups are available in the zoning office after they have been approved.

Berlin Township Zoning Forms and Documents

Downloads require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Berlin Township Zoning Fee Schedule 2009

Application for Commercial Zoning Permit

Application for Driveway Inspection

Application for New Home Zoning Permit

Application for Residential Zoning Permit

Building Use Affidavit